The history of Apple products: Power Mac G4 or the cube from the turn of the millennium

On the website of Jablíčkára, we recall from time to time some of the products that Apple introduced in the past. This week, the choice fell on the Power Mac G4 Cube - a legendary stylish "cube", which unfortunately did not meet with the success that Apple had originally hoped for.

Many users also know the Power Mac G4 under the nickname "cube". This machine, which Apple introduced in July 2000, was indeed cube-shaped and its dimensions were 20 x 20 x 25 centimeters. Like the iMac G3, the Power Mac G4 was partly made of transparent plastic and covered with acrylic, and the combination of these materials gave the impression of floating in the air. The Power Mac G4 was equipped with an optical drive and had the function of passive cooling, which was provided by the grid on the top. The base model was fitted with a 450 MHz G4 processor, 64MB of RAM and a 20GB hard drive, and was also equipped with an ATI Rage 128 Pro video card.

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Power Mac G4 Cube MacWorld

Source: MacWorld

Power Mac G4 Cube 1

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Power Mac G4 Cube 3

While the basic model could be purchased in brick-and-mortar stores, the upgraded model could only be ordered through the Apple e-shop. In order to achieve the desired form and design, the Power Mac G4 lacked any expansion slots and lacked audio inputs and outputs – instead, this model was sold with Harman Kardon speakers and a digital amplifier. The idea for the design of the Power Mac G4 was born in the head of Steve Jobs, who, according to his own words, wanted the most minimalistic design possible. The fulfillment of his ideas was ensured by the responsible team led by designer Jony Ivo, who decided not to follow the then trend of uniform computer "towers".

The Power Mac G4 Cube was introduced at Macworld Expo on July 19, 2000 as part of One More Thing. For many people, this was not a big surprise, because even before the conference there were speculations that Apple was preparing a computer of this type. The first responses were generally positive - the design of the computer received praise in particular - but there was also criticism directed, for example, at the excessive touch sensitivity of the switch-off button. However, sales of this model did not go as well as Apple had originally expected, which is why it was discounted in 2001. Over time, however, some users began to report the appearance of cracks on the surface of their computer, which understandably did not have a very good impact on the reputation of the "cube". In July 2001, Apple issued a press statement stating that it was putting production and sales of this model on hold due to low demand.